lingo v lingo answer
TRANSCRIPT
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
ARCHIBALD LINGO and
ARCHIES MARKET, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
DINAH LINGO, JESSICA LINGO, LINGOBROS., LLC and THE ORIGINALLINGOS MARKET, LLC,
Defendants.
)))))))))))))
C.A. No. 10-624-SLR
DEFENDANTSANSWERTOFIRST
AMENDEDCOMPLAINTANDCOUNTERCLAIMS
Defendants Dinah Lingo, Jessica Lingo, Lingo Bros., LLC and The Original Lingos
Market, LLC (collectively, Lingo Defendants), by and through their undersigned counsel,
answer the First Amended Complaint (Complaint) of Plaintiffs, Archibald Lingo and Archies
Market, Inc. (collectively, Archie Lingo or Plaintiffs) and assert counterclaims as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. The Lingo Defendants admit that Plaintiffs have filed an action which seeksdamages and injunctive relief under the laws of the United States and the State of Delaware. The
Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 1 of the Complaint.
2. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form abelief as to the truth of the allegation that Plaintiffs are in the process of securing space in
Rehoboth Beach, and therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of
paragraph 2 of the Complaint.
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JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3. The Lingo Defendants admit that Plaintiffs have asserted claims under the laws ofthe United States and the State of Delaware. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the
allegations of paragraph 3 of the Complaint.
4. The Lingo Defendants admit that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction overthis case. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 4 of the Complaint.
5. The Lingo Defendants admit that venue is proper in this district. The LingoDefendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 5 of the Complaint.
THE PARTIES
6. The Lingo Defendants admit that U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records stateon their face that Archie Lingo is the owner of U.S. Service Mark, Reg. No. 33,553,466. The
Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 6 of the Complaint.
7. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form abelief as to the truth of the allegation that Archies Market, Inc. is located at 31034 Edge Wood
Drive, Lewes, Delaware, and therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the
allegations of paragraph 7 of the Complaint.
8. The Lingo Defendants admit that Dinah Lingo is the sister of Archie Lingo and aresident of Delaware. The Lingo Defendants further admit that Dinah Lingo purchased the space
that housed the Lingos Market business owned by Dinah Lingo and Archie Lingos parents and
that she is using the space to operate a grocery and gourmet food business. The Lingo
Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 8 of the Complaint.
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9. The Lingo Defendants admit that Jessica Lingo is a resident of Delaware. TheLingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 9 of the Complaint.
10. The Lingo Defendants admit that Lingo Bros., LLC is a Delaware limited liabilitycompany. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 10 of the
Complaint.
11. The Lingo Defendants admit that The Original Lingos Market, LLC is aDelaware limited liability company. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of
paragraph 11 of the Complaint.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
12. The Lingo Defendants admit that the history of Lingos Market dates back morethan one hundred years, that William H. and Eleanor Lingo operated Lingos Market for many
years prior to 1981, and that William H. Lingo died in 1981. The Lingo Defendants otherwise
deny the allegations of paragraph 12 of the Complaint.
13. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 13 of the Complaint.14. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 14 of the Complaint.15. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 15 of the Complaint.16. The Lingo Defendants admit that the Lingos Market name is well-known in the
Rehoboth Beach community. The Lingo Defendants further admit that the market has been the
subject of newspaper articles and is depicted in a painting by a local artist. The Lingo
Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 16 of the Complaint.
17. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 17 of the Complaint.18. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 18 of the Complaint.19. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 19 of the Complaint.
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20. The Lingo Defendants admit that U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records stateon their face that Archie Lingo is the owner of U.S. Service Mark, Reg. No. 33,553,466. The
Lingo Defendants further admit that the registration is for retail gourmet grocery store
services. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a
belief as to the truth of the allegation that Exhibit A is a true and correct copy of the registration,
and therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 20 of
the Complaint.
21. The Lingo Defendants admit that Plaintiffs did not operate a retail grocery andgourmet food business during the 2010 season. The Lingo Defendants further admit that, upon
information and belief, Plaintiffs do not currently operate a retail grocery and gourmet food
business. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a
belief as to the truth of the allegation about Plaintiffs intentions for the 2011 tourist season, and
therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 21 of the
Complaint.
22. The Lingo Defendants admit that the Lingos Market name is recognizedfavorably among the consuming public in the Rehoboth Beach area. The Lingo Defendants
otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 22 of the Complaint.
23. The Lingo Defendants admit that the Lingos Market name carries intangiblevalue. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 23 of the Complaint.
24. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 24 of the Complaint.25. The sentence in paragraph 25 concerning secondary meaning states a legal
conclusion to which no response is required. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the
allegations of paragraph 25 of the Complaint.
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26. The Lingo Defendants admit that the Lingos Market name is recognizedamong the consuming public in the Rehoboth Beach area. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny
the allegations of paragraph 26 of the Complaint.
27. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 27 of the Complaint.28. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a
belief as to the truth of the allegation about Plaintiffs use of the Lingos Market name, and
therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 28 of the
Complaint.
29.
The Lingo Defendants admit that Archie Lingo leased the space that housed the
Lingos Market business, now owned by Dinah Lingo and formerly owned by Dinah Lingos
parents. The Lingo Defendants further admit that Dinah Lingo purchased the space that housed
the Lingos Market business, now owned by Dinah Lingo, and formerly owned by her parents.
The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 29 of the Complaint.
30. The Lingo Defendants admit that Dinah Lingo operates a grocery and gourmetfood business under the name The Original Lingos Market, Dinah H. Lingo, Sole Proprietor.
The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
truth of the allegation about the photograph attached to the Complaint as Exhibit B, and therefore
deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 30 of the Complaint.
31. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 31 of the Complaint.32. The Lingo Defendants admit that Lingo Bros., LLC and The Original Lingos
Market, Dinah H. Lingo, Sole Proprietor are not associated or affiliated with Plaintiffs or any
alleged retail grocery and gourmet food business of Plaintiffs. The Lingo Defendants otherwise
deny the allegations of paragraph 32 of the Complaint.
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33. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 33 of the Complaint.34. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a
belief as to the truth of the allegation about invoices and account numbers assigned to Plaintiffs
alleged business, and therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of
paragraph 34 of the Complaint.
35. The Lingo Defendants admit that Plaintiffs do not control the nature or quality ofthe services that Dinah Lingo is advertising, promoting and selling. The Lingo Defendants
otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 35 of the Complaint.
36.
The Lingo Defendants admit that Dinah Lingo is the sister of Archie Lingo. The
Lingo Defendants further admit that Exhibit D is a letter dated June 28, 2010. The Lingo
Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 36 of the Complaint.
37. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 37of the Complaint.38. The Lingo Defendants are without knowledge or information sufficient to form a
belief as to the truth of the allegation about Defendants intentions to offer services under the
Lingos Market name, and therefore deny it. The Lingo Defendants otherwise deny the
allegations of paragraph 38 of the Complaint.
39. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 39 of the Complaint.40. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 40 of the Complaint.41. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 41 of the Complaint.42. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 42 of the Complaint.43. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 43 of the Complaint.44. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 44 of the Complaint.45. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 45 of the Complaint.
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COUNT I
(Federal Trademark Infringement)
46. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-45 above as if fullyset forth herein.
47. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 47 of the Complaint.
COUNT II
(False Designation of Origin and False Description of Goods)
48. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-47 above as if fullyset forth herein.
49. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 49 of the Complaint.50. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 50 of the Complaint.
COUNT III
(Trademark Dilution in Violation of 6Del. C. 3312)
51. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-50 above as if fullyset forth herein.
52. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 52 of the Complaint.COUNT IV
(Federal Trademark Dilution)
53. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-52 above as if fullyset forth herein.
54. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 54 of the Complaint.55. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 55 of the Complaint.56. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 56 of the Complaint.57. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 57 of the Complaint.
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COUNT V
(Common Law Trademark and Tradename Infringement)
58. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-57 above as if fullyset forth herein.
59. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 59 of the Complaint.60. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 60 of the Complaint.61. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 61 of the Complaint.
COUNT VI
(Unfair Competition in Violation of 6Del. C. 2532 and Common Law)
62. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-61 above as if fullyset forth herein.
63. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 63 of the Complaint.COUNT VII
(Punitive, Exemplary and/or Treble Damages and for Attorneys Fees and Costs)
64. The Lingo Defendants incorporate by reference paragraphs 1-63 above as if fullyset forth herein.
65. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 65 of the Complaint.66. The Lingo Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 66 of the Complaint.The Lingo Defendants deny that Defendants are entitled to any of the relief requested in
their Prayer for Relief, and further deny each and every allegation in the Complaint not expressly
admitted or controverted above.
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
FIRST DEFENSE
(Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief May be Granted)
The Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
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SECOND DEFENSE
(Laches)
Plaintiffs claims are barred by the doctrine of laches.
THIRD DEFENSE(Estoppel and Acquiescence)
Plaintiffs claims are barred by the doctrines of estoppel and/or acquiescence.
FOURTH DEFENSE
(Lack of Standing)
Plaintiffs claims fail because he lacks standing to sue.
FIFTH DEFENSE(Unclean Hands)
Plaintiffs claims are barred by the doctrine of unclean hands.
SIXTH DEFENSE
(Lack of Ownership Rights)
Plaintiffs claims fail because Archie Lingo is not the owner of the alleged mark, has no
rights in the alleged mark, and did not own the alleged mark (or any portion of it) when he
submitted it to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for registration in 2008.
SEVENTH DEFENSE
(Improper Trademark Registration)
Plaintiffs claims fail because U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 33,553,466 alleged in
the Complaint is invalid and was improperly issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
EIGHTH DEFENSE
(Fraud in Procurement of Trademark Registration)
Plaintiffs claims fail because U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 33,553,466 alleged in
the Complaint was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in reliance upon knowingly
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false and fraudulent statements of material fact made by Archie Lingo with the intent to induce
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to issue said registration.
NINTH DEFENSE
(Fair Use Doctrine)
The Lingo Defendants alleged use of the term Lingos Market is protected under the
fair use doctrine.
TENTH DEFENSE
(No Likelihood of Customer Confusion)
Plaintiffs claims fail because the Lingo Defendants alleged use of the term Lingos
Market is not likely to cause customer confusion.
ELEVENTH DEFENSE
(Senior Common Law Trademark Rights)
Plaintiffs claims fail because Dinah Lingos common law trademark rights are senior to
and have priority over any rights in the alleged mark claimed by the Plaintiffs.
COUNTERCLAIMS
The Lingo Defendants assert the following counterclaims against Plaintiffs:
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
1. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the counterclaims arising under theLanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1119-21, 1125 and 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338. This Court has
subject matter jurisdiction over the counterclaims arising under the statutory and common law of
the State of Delaware pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1367(a).
2. Venue is appropriate in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391.3. This Court has personal jurisdiction over all parties to this action.
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THE PARTIES
4. Lingo Bros., LLC is a limited liability company organized and existing under thelaws of the State of Delaware, with the address of its registered office at 312 Salisbury Street,
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971.
5. The Original Lingos Market, LLC is a limited liability company organized andexisting under the laws of the State of Delaware.
6. Dinah Lingo is an individual, residing at 312 Salisbury Street, Rehoboth Beach,Delaware 19971.
7.
Jessica Lingo is an individual whom resides in Sussex County, Delaware.
8. Archie Lingo is an individual whom, upon information and belief, resides inSussex County, Delaware.
9. Archies Market, Inc., upon information and belief, is a corporation organizedunder the laws of the State of Delaware.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
10. This dispute relates to the Lingos Market, a grocery store at the corner of 1stStreet and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The store has been in operation at
this location for more than 60 years. During that time, the name Lingos Market has been in
use continuously and exclusively in connection with the operation of the Lingos Market grocery
store. For the past 35 years, the store has operated at least 100 days per year between late May
and mid-September.
11. Prior to 1981, the Lingos Market business was jointly owned and operated byWilliam H. and Eleanor Lingo. Also prior to 1981, the Lingos Market mark was used by
William H. and Eleanor Lingo in connection with their operation of their business. When
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William Lingo died in 1981, his joint ownership interest (with Eleanor Lingo) in the Lingos
Market business passed to Eleanor Lingo. When Eleanor Lingo died in 2009, the ownership
interest in the Lingo Market business passed to Dinah Lingo pursuant to the terms of Eleanor
Lingos will.
12. Between 1981 and 2005, Eleanor Lingo worked at the store every day it wasopen. During that time, she was not compensated for her work at the market, except for during
the pendency of Archie Lingos divorce when she received all the profits of the market.
13. Between 1981 and 2005, Archie Lingo managed the store and operated it on aday-to-day basis with Eleanor Lingo. During that time, Archie Lingo paid rent to Eleanor Lingo
and the trust of $50,000 per year.
14. During the time Archie Lingo managed and operated the Lingos Market business, he never acquired or obtained any ownership rights to the business or to any
trademarks or other intangible property associated with the business. Indeed, there are no
documents indicating that any portion of the ownership of the Lingos Market business or any
trademark or other intangible property rights were transferred to Archie Lingo prior to Eleanor
Lingos death in November 2009.
15. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in December 2008, Archie Lingo knowinglymisrepresented to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that, among other things, he was the
owner of the Lingos Market business and obtained a federally registered mark for Lingos
Market. Archie Lingo also knowingly misrepresented that the Lingos Market mark was first
used in 1981 and failed to disclose to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the mark had
been used continuously and exclusively in connection with the operation of the Lingos Market
grocery store located at the corner of 1st Street and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware for
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at least 70 years prior to his attempt to register the mark, and alleged date of first use of the
mark.
16. Upon Eleanor Lingos death in 2009, her assets, including her ownership interestin the Lingos Market business and all other intangible property associated with the business,
including the common law mark Lingos Market, passed and were distributed to Dinah Lingo.
17. In May 2010, Dinah Lingo purchased the space that housed the Lingos Marketbusiness owned by her late parents, where she now owns and operates a grocery and gourmet
food business under the name The Original Lingos Market, Dinah Lingo, Sole Proprietor.
18.
Upon information and belief, Archie Lingo does not currently own or operate a
retail grocery market and/or gourmet food business of any kind.
COUNT I
(Cancellation of Archie Lingos Registration)
19. The Lingo Defendants hereby reallege and incorporate by reference, as if fully setforth herein, the allegations of their Affirmative Defenses and paragraphs 1-18 of their
Counterclaims above.
20. Dinah Lingo is likely to be damaged by continued registration of U.S. ServiceMark Registration No. 33,553,466 alleged in the Complaint in that Dinah Lingo owns and
controls the common law mark Lingos Market, which was in use continuously in connection
with the operation of the Lingos Market grocery store located at the corner of 1st Street and
Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware for at least 70 years before Archie Lingo obtained said
registration and prior to Archie Lingos alleged date of first use of the mark, and which Dinah
Lingo has a valid and legal right to describe by use of the term registered as a mark by Archie
Lingo.
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21. Dinah Lingo is likely to be damaged by continued registration of said term in thattheprima facie evidentiary effect of such registration tends to impair Dinah Lingos right to
descriptive use of said term.
COUNT II
(Damages for False and Fraudulent Registration)
22. The Lingo Defendants hereby reallege and incorporate by reference, as if fully setforth herein, the allegations of their Affirmative Defenses and paragraphs 1-21 of their
Counterclaims above.
23. In December 2008, in order to obtain federal registration of U.S. Service MarkRegistration No. 33,553,466, Archie Lingo knowingly misrepresented material facts to the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office including that, among other things, he was the owner of the
Lingos Market mark.
24. In addition, to procure registration, Archie Lingo knowingly misrepresented to theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the Lingos Market mark was first used in 1981.
Archie Lingo also knowingly failed to disclose to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the
Lingos Market mark had been used continuously and exclusively in connection with the
operation of the Lingos Market grocery store located at the corner of 1st Street and Baltimore
Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware for at least 70 years prior to his attempt to register the mark and
prior to his alleged date of first use.
25. Archie Lingo knowingly made these false and fraudulent statements to the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office with the intent to induce the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to
issue a service mark registration.
26. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office relied upon Archie Lingos false andfraudulent statements to grant U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 33,553,466.
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27. Dinah Lingo has been damaged by Archie Lingos knowingly false and fraudulentstatements and the registration issued in reliance thereon in that Dinah Lingo owns and controls
the senior common law mark Lingos Market, which has continuously and exclusively been in
use in connection with the operation of the Lingos Market grocery store located at the corner of
1st Street and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware for at least 70 years before Archie
Lingo obtained said registration and prior to Archie Lingos alleged date of first use of the mark,
and Dinah Lingos continued and legal use of said term will be impaired by the continued
registration of U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 33,553,466.
28.
Dinah Lingo has been further damaged by Archie Lingos false and fraudulent
statements and the registration issued in reliance thereon in that Dinah Lingo has, upon
information and belief, lost sales to customers and been notified by vendors who have been
misinformed by Archie Lingo of infringement litigation, and in that the Lingo Defendants have
been and will continue to be forced to incur substantial expenses in the defense of the present
suit.
29. Said procurement by Archie Lingo of registration of U.S. Service MarkRegistration No. 33,553,466 in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by said false and
fraudulent declarations and representations renders Archie Lingo liable to the Lingo Defendants
for damages sustained as a consequence thereof under 15 U.S.C. 1120 and/or any other
applicable provisions or doctrines of federal and state law.
COUNT III
(Declaratory Judgment of Senior Common Law Trademark Rights)
30. The Lingo Defendants hereby reallege and incorporate by reference, as if fully setforth herein, the allegations of their Affirmative Defenses and paragraphs 1-29 of their
Counterclaims above.
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31. The term Lingos Market is a common law trademark and/or service mark andtrade name.
32. The Lingos Market name is recognized favorably among the consuming publicin Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and the surrounding area.
33. The Lingos Market name carries intangible value.34. Dinah Lingo owns and controls the common law mark Lingos Market.35. The Lingos Market mark was in use continuously and exclusively in
connection with the operation of the Lingos Market grocery store located at the corner of 1st
Street and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware for at least 70 years before Archie Lingo
obtained registration of U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 33,553,466 and prior to Archie
Lingos alleged date of first use of the mark.
36. Dinah Lingo is entitled to a judicial declaration that she owns the common lawtrademark Lingos Market and that her rights are senior to and have priority over any
trademark rights alleged by Archie Lingo.
COUNT IV
(Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement)
37. The Lingo Defendants hereby reallege and incorporate by reference, as if fully setforth herein, the allegations of their Affirmative Defenses and paragraphs 1-36 of their
Counterclaims above.
38. Dinah Lingo owns the senior common law mark Lingos Market, which hascontinuously been in use in connection with the operation of the Lingos Market grocery store
located at the corner of 1st Street and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware for at least 70
years before Archie Lingo obtained registration of U.S. Service Mark Registration No.
33,553,466 and prior to Archie Lingos alleged date of first use of the mark.
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39. Dinah Lingo is entitled to a judicial declaration that her use of the LingosMarket mark has priority over and does not infringe Archie Lingos alleged mark under either
federal, state or common law.
COUNT V
(Declaratory Judgment of No Likelihood of Confusion)
40. The Lingo Defendants hereby reallege and incorporate by reference, as if fully setforth herein, the allegations of their Affirmative Defenses and paragraphs 1-39 of their
Counterclaims above.
41. Dinah Lingo owns and operates a grocery and gourmet food business under thename The Original Lingos Market, Dinah Lingo, Sole Proprietor at the corner of 1st Street
and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware.
42. Upon information and belief, Archie Lingo does not presently own or operate aretail grocery and gourmet food business of any kind.
43. Dinah Lingo is entitled to a judicial declaration that there exists no likelihood ofcustomer confusion between the name Lingos Market and her use of the name The Original
Lingos Market, Dinah Lingo, Sole Proprietor.
44. Alternatively, should the Court conclude otherwise, as set forth in Count IV of theCounterclaims below, Archie Lingos use of the Lingos Market name constitutes an
infringement of Dinah Lingos common law rights in the Lingos Market name. Thus, Dinah
Lingo is entitled to a permanent injunction enjoining Archie Lingo from using the Lingos
Market name as he alleges in the Complaint
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COUNT VI
(Common Law Trademark and Tradename Infringement)
45. The Lingo Defendants hereby reallege and incorporate by reference, as if fully setforth herein, the allegations of their Affirmative Defenses and paragraphs 1-44 of their
Counterclaims above.
46. The term Lingos Market is a common law trademark and/or service mark andtrade name.
47. Dinah Lingo owns the common law mark Lingos Market.48. The Lingos Market mark was in use continuously and exclusively in
connection with the operation of the Lingos Market grocery store located at the corner of 1st
Street and Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth, Delaware long before Archie Lingos alleged first use
of the Lingos Market name in 1981, and long before Archie Lingo obtained registration of
U.S. Service Mark Registration No. 33,553,466 in 2008.
49. Archie Lingos use of the Lingos Market name constitutes an infringement ofDinah Lingos common law rights in the Lingos Market name, or in the alternative, Archie
Lingos use of the alleged mark is junior to Dinah Lingos common law trademark rights to the
mark.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the Lingo Defendants pray that this Court:
(a) dismiss Plaintiffs claims in their entirety and with prejudice;
(b) deny all remedies and relief sought by Plaintiffs;
(c) enter judgment in favor of the Lingo Defendants and against Plaintiffs on
all claims and counterclaims;
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(d) exercise its power under 15 U.S.C. 1119, to order the Commissioner of
Patents and Trademarks to cancel the registration of U.S. Service Mark Registration No.
33,553,466;
(e) award damages to the Lingo Defendants under 15 U.S.C. 1120 for
damages sustained as a result of Archie Lingos false and fraudulent statements to the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office;
(f) adjudge and declare that Dinah Lingo owns the common law mark
Lingos Market and that her rights are senior to any rights alleged by Plaintiffs;
(g) adjudge and declare that Dinah Lingos use of the Lingos Market mark
does not infringe Archie Lingos alleged mark under federal law or at common law;
(h) adjudge and declare that there exists no likelihood of customer confusion
between the name Lingos Market and Dinah Lingos use of the name The Original Lingos
Market, Dinah Lingo, Sole Proprietor, or alternatively, adjudge and declare that Plaintiffs use
of the Lingos Market name constitutes an infringement of Dinah Lingos common law rights
in the Lingos Market name;
(i) award compensatory, exemplary, punitive and treble damages for
Plaintiffs intentional, willful, bad-faith, malicious and wrongful conduct;
(j) enter a permanent injunction enjoining and restraining Plaintiffs and their
affiliates, associates, officers, agents, servants, employees and those persons in privity, acting in
concert or participation with Plaintiffs from:
(1) using the Lingos Market name or any mark confusingly similar
in association or connection with any business, facilities, operations, goods or services;
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(2) committing any act that infringes or dilutes Dinah Lingos
common law Lingos Market mark; and
(3) unfairly competing with Dinah Lingo and using the Lingos
Market name;
(k) award expenses and costs of this civil action together with reasonable
attorneys fees to the Lingo Defendants; and
(l) grant such other and further relief as it shall deem just, equitable and
proper.
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT &TAYLOR, LLP
/s/ Mont T. Squire_______________________________Richard A. Zappa (No. 528)Adam W. Poff (No. 3990)Mont T. Squire (No. 4764)The Brandywine Building1000 West Street, 17th FloorWilmington, Delaware 19801(302) [email protected]
Attorneys for Defendants
Dated: October 15, 2010
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Mont T. Squire, Esquire,hereby certify that on October 15, 2010, I caused to
be electronically filed a true and correct copy of the foregoing document with the Clerk of the
Court using CM/ECF, which will send notification that such filing is available for viewing and
downloading to the following counsel of record:
Matthew Neiderman, Esquire
Katharine V. Jackson, EsquireDuane Morris, LLP
1100 North Market Street, Suite 1200
Wilmington, DE 19801-1246
I further certify that on October 15, 2010, I caused a true and correct copy of the
foregoing document to be served by e-mail on the above-listed counsel of record and on the
following:
Anthony L Gallia, EsquireDuane Morris, LLP
30 South 17th StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19103-4196
YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT
& TAYLOR, LLP
/s/ Mont T. Squire
Richard A. Zappa (No. 0528)
Adam W. Poff (No. 3990)
Mont T. Squire (No. 4764)The Brandywine Building
1000 West Street, 17th Floor
Wilmington, Delaware 19801(302) 571-6600
Dated: October 15, 2010 Attorneys for Defendants
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